Ask a Trooper: Classes start for parents of teen drivers
Published 9:22 am Wednesday, January 7, 2015
By Sgt. Troy Christianson
Minnesota State Patrol
Question: What are the new graduated driver’s licensing laws for new drivers?
Answer: The 2014 Minnesota Legislature passed a new graduated driver licensing law effective Jan. 1, 2015. The new law requires driver education programs to offer a 90 minute class for parents of teens obtaining their instruction permits and provisional driver’s licenses.
This class will provide information regarding teen driving risks, teen driving laws and adult influences on teen driver behaviors. The new law also requires that students under the age of 18 submit a supervised driving log to the driver exam staff at the time of the road test for the provisional driver’s license. The log must verify the student completed 50 hours of supervised driving time, 15 of which must be nighttime hours.
Sgt. Troy Christianson
Ask a Trooper
Minnesota State Patrol
If a parent/guardian completes the parent class and submits a certificate of completion to the driver exam staff at the time of the road test, or if it was submitted when applying for an instruction permit, 40 hours of supervised driving time are required, 15 of which must be nighttime hours.
The parent awareness class is critical to understanding today’s teen driving risks, Minnesota’s teen driving laws, and how to help your teen become a safer driver. As a parent, don’t put convenience ahead of safety. Just because teens have their licenses doesn’t mean they’re ready for every driving situation.
Parents should continue to supervise their teens driving after they’re licensed. The key to developing safer teen drivers is to provide supervised experience — a lot of “windshield time,” discuss driving responsibilities with your teen, establish clear family driving rules and follow through with consequences when warranted.
We encourage parents to practice with their kids well beyond the new minimum requirements of the law to ensure they’re prepared to drive in the many driving and weather conditions they will eventually experience on their own.
The extra required driving practice hours and the supervised driving log help teen drivers become more experienced and help parents track progress and areas to improve.
If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th ST NW, Rochester, MN 55901-5848. Follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_SOUTH
